Apparatus for handling strip metals



.Nov.`12, 1940. c. A. BoLmNGr-:R ET AL 2.221,468

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP METALS Filed Aug. 7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l[We/enfers.'

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Nov. 12, 1940. c. A. BoLLlNGx-:R ET AL 2.221.468

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP METALS Fi'led Apg. '7, 1959 2 sheets-sheet?Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claude A. Bollingerand Frederick K. Schefe, Gary, Ind.

Application August 7, 1939, Serial No. 288,902

4 Claims. (Cl. Ztl- 33) This invention relates to the manufacture ofstrip metal, and more particularly to the handling thereof when in verysubstantial lengths.

In the manufacture of strip metals, such as 5 strip steel, in verysubstantial lengths it is necessary to keep the same on coils and todirect the strip into various types of processing apparatus, one exampleof which is an electro-tinning line. In such a type of processing, thestrip is fed continuously through the processing medium and it isundesirable to interrupt the feed thereof between the trailing end ofone coil and the leading end` of the succeeding coil. It has, therefore,been proposed, and is now commonly practiced, to weld or stitch thetrailing end of one coil to the leading or advance end of the nextsucceeding coil.

' So far as we are aware, the most commonly used equipment consists of aplurality of uncoilers, a single type of shear, and single type pinchrolls. With such arrangements, considerable time is lost during theshearing operation which is necessary to square -the adjacent ends ofthe coils and also while positioning said ends for welding or stitching.In order that such a loss of time will not be excessive, looping pitsare provided for storing sufficient lengths of strip so that the joiningoperation may be carried on continuously. This advantage has beenimprac- 33 tical because the joining operation and steps incidentthereto require-too much time to enable the utilization of a looping pitof suiiicient depth.

It is among. the objects of` the present invention to feed succeedingstrips of metal in joined u relationship in a minimum of time.

Another object is the provisioxiof a method and apparatus of the classdescribed wherein the only loss of time will be that which is requiredto advance the trailing end of the strip from the shear to the Welderand during the immediately subsequent welding operation.

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully dcribedand as particularly pointed out in the claims, the following descriptionand the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative of but several of anumber of ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed-5u In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the invention, lsome ofthe instrumentalities thereof being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view on the line II-II of Figure 1;

and

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but disclosing amodification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates aconcrete foundation within which there is a looping pit 3. In accordancewith prior art practices, (and referring particularly to Figure 1) onthe left-hand side of the looping pit 3 there is disposed the usualconveying or processing instrumentalities (none of which is shown). 10

Disposed on the foundation 2 at a point remote from the looping pit 3there is mounted van uncoiler `I upon which there is carried a coil 5 ofstrip metal which is to be further processed. Intermediate the loopingpit 3 and the uncoiler 15 4 there is disposed a second uncoiler Ii whichoccupies a position substantially lower than the uncoiler 4. Thisuncoiler 6 carries a coil 'l of strip metal which may be identical withthe coil 5 referred to hereinbefore. Immediately ad- 20 jacent thelooping pit 3 and mounted on the foundation 2 there is disposed a pairof suitably driven pinch rolls Il) which are adapted to feed the stripmetal of either the coil 5 or the coil 'I either directly into theconveying or processing 25 instrumentalitiesl (not shown) or into thelooping pit 3.

As previously pointed out, it is desired to direct the strip of eitherthe coil 5 or the coil 'I through the conveying 'or processinginstrumentalities 30 and to attach the second or succeeding coil (as thecase may be) to the trailing end thereof with but a minimum loss oftime.

According to the teachings of the present invention, there is disposedbetween the uncoiler E 35 andthelooping pit 3, (and most adjacent thelatter) a pair of suitably driven pinch rolls I2 providing a horizontalpass. This pair of pinch rolls I2 is adapted to receive the strip metalof the coil 5 and feed the same forwardly to the 4e pinch rolls I0,which are closely adjacent the looping pit 3. In order that the stripmetal of the coil 5 may be fed forwardly to the pinch rolls III, theupper of the pair of pinch rolls I2 is movable upwardly away from thelower roll 45 thereof in order to permit the entry of the strip.

Disposed immediately below the pinch rolls I2 and occupying a commonvertical plane, there is disposed a corresponding set of suitably drivenpinch rolls I3 which are constructed and ar- 5o ranged to handle thestrip metal of the coil l' on the uncoiler 6 in the same manner that thepinch rolls I2 are constructed and arranged to handle the strip 5 fromthe uncoiler 4. Accordingly, the lower of the pair of pinch'roils I3 isai and `remove scrap from the operation of. the shear 2 adapted formovement downwardly away from the upper roll thereof.

'Ihe pinch rolls I2 and I3 are independently driven in any suitablemanner as, for example,

and connected prime move assemblies, designated at I4 and I5,respectively, in Figure 2.

Between the pinch rolls I6 and the pinch rolls I2 and I3,\ respectively,there is disposed a stationary shear block I6, the upper and lower edgesof which arein alignmentwith the lin of pass formed between the pinchrolls I2-I2 and I3-I3, respectively. The edge of the shear block I6which is most adjacent the pinch rolls I2 is provided with an uppershear blade I1, while the most remote lower edge of theshear block posedimmediately. above the stationary shear block I6. and between it and thepinch rolls I2, there is a suitably operated movable shear block 2Ihaving on its edge most adjacent the stationary shear block I6 a shearblade 22 which lco operates with the upper shear blade I1 carried by theshear block I6. A movable shear block 25 is disposed beneath the shearblock I6 on the side most remote from the pinch rolls I3 and is providedwith an upper shear blade 26 for cooperation with the lowershear bladeI8 carried by the shear block I6. vFrom the foregoing, it

will be seen that stripmetal from the coil 5 passing between the pinchrolls I2 may be sheared by the shear blades 22 and I1, while strip metalfrom the coil 1 passing between the pinch rolls I3 may be sheared by theshear knives 26 and I6.

Disposed immediately adjacent the stationary shear block I6 on its sidewhich is remote from the pinch rolls I2 and I3, there'is mounted atrackway 30 which supports a scrap buggy BI', the latter being adaptedto move at right angles .with respect to the path of travel of the stripmetal from either of the coils E or 1. It will be noted that the scrapbuggy 3l is disposed beneath the line of pass of the pinch rolls I2 butabove' the line of pass of the pinch rolls I3, whereby the scrap buggy3l is adapted to receive shear scrap resulting from the operation of theshear blades 22 and I1.

Immediately below the trackway 36 and the line of pass of'the pinchrolls, I3, there'jis `disposed a trackway 32 upon which theriefl'ismounted a scrap buggy 33. 'I'his scrap bugy is adapted to move in adirection which is parallel to the scrap buggy'il, and being below, the;line of pass of the pinch-rolls I3, is adapted to receive .blades 26 andI8.

Referringmore particularly to the left-hand" portion of Figure lofthe-drawings, it will be notedthat immediatdy above and be1ow theline cipass of the pinch rolls I0 there is disposed a rol1,`as at l39 and 44,vrespectively.

The strip metal from the coil 5, after it emerges f from' between thepinch rolls I2 and the shear 'y blades 22 and I1, is fed downwardly by aroll 31 whichis disposed below but tangentially of the line of pass ofthe pinch rolls I2. From the roll 31 thestrip metal of the coil 5 is fedunder the roll' fand into the pass formed by the pinch rolls Ill'. y i yi The strip material oi` the coil 1, after passing through the pinch`rolls I3 and shear blades 26 and` IB, passes under the roll 4I whichisdisposed above buttangentially: of the line of pass of the-v pinchrolls I3. Fromfunde'r the roll 4I thestrlp metalfof --the coil 1 isldirected over the roll `44 through the adlacently disposed pinion standI6 is provided with a lower shear blade |28. Disformed by the -roll 39and the upper or lower of the pinch rolls I0 there is disposedal weldingmachine anvil, generally designated at 46. The welding instrumentalities45 may consist of a conventional single seam welder, conventional doubleseam Welder, or any other suitable welding or fastening device.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, we have shown a modified form ofthe 'invention as comprising a pair of upper and lower rotary drumshears Ell-5I and 52-53, respectively, in lieu of the upper and lowerguillotine shears provided by the instrumentalities I6-2I and I6-25.This modied type of shear (i. e. the rotary drum type) will be moredesirable where it is necessary to cut up, for salvaging purposes orotherwise, a considerable length of heavy-end or scrap material.

Duerto the construction and arrangement, as described hereinabove, acontinuous operation may be carried on through the processing equipmentvas suiiicient stock of strip metal may be stored in the looping pit 3 toprovide for the small time delay while ,welding or otherwise fasteningthe adjacent edges of the coils. If desired, the" apparatus of theinvention may be used without employing a looping pit; but in such eventit will be necessary to stop-for a short ingether. Also, the welding'instrumentalities 45 and 46 may be entirely eliminated and the stripsmerely fed in succession rather than as secured together.

It is one of the features of the present invention that if at any timeduring the processing of strip, etc. whereby the processing equipment isprotected from such damage as marked rolls or dnlled shear blades.

In operation:

`Let it be assumed that the coil 1 on vthe uncoller 6 is being processedon the linek and is being pulled between the pinch rolls I0 from theuncoiler; through the pinch rolls I3 which have been opened up bysuitable air cylinders, or other wise; through the shear blades 26 andI6 which are separated; under the deilector roll 4I and over thedeflector roll 44. When a coil 5 is placedon the uncoiler 4, the leadingend of the strip thereof may be fed up either mechanically or manuallyto the pinch rolls I2, which are then brought together by suitable aircylinders, or otherwise, to further advance it. As the leading end ofthe strip is"moved forwardly, it may be sheared to obtain a square end,remove scrap,

or to shear up end portions of the .coil which it is not desired toprocess further on the line. 'I'his 'sheared material is collected fromthe scrap buggy II, which is retracted and `emptied in any suitablemanner (not shown). 'I'he squared end Y `of the good, or unremoved,portion of the strip may, then be fed over the upper deflect'or rolll31;

under the lower deilector roll l! and between the weldinginstrumentalities 45 and 4I. This end of the strip may be allowed torest on the rterval while securing the edges of the strips toweldingmechanism until the trailing and of the strip metal of the coil 1 isreached, and sheared square. The trailing end of the strip metal of thecoil 'l may then be advanced to the Welding instrumentalities and 46 bythe pinch rolls I0; the pinch rolls I3 and sheer blades 26 and 28 beingstill retracted. After the trailing end of the strip metal of the coil Tis Welded to the advance end of the strip metal of the coil 5, the pinchrolls I0 are operated to advance the strip forwardly into the loopingpit 3 or, if desired, direct into any prccessing or conveying instru-.-mentality. In either event there will be but a small delay during thewelding or fastening operation.

While we have shown and described several specic embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be seen that We do not Wish to be limitedexactly thereto, since various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scopeof the invention, as dened by the followingclaims.

We claim:

l. Apparatus for handling strip metal comprising an uncoiling device, aypair of separable pinch rolls for receiving and advancing a strip, asecond uncoiling device, a pair of separable pinch rolls disposed abovesaid first-named pinch rolls and adapted to receive and advance a stripadvanced from said second uncoiling device, shearing means for each setof said pinch rolls, and a retractable scrap buggy for each of saidshearing means.

2. Apparatus for handling strip metal com-A prising an uncoiling device,a pair of separable pinch rolls for receiving and advancing a strip, asecond uncoiling device, a pair of separable pinch rolls disposed abovesaid first-named pinch rolls and adapted to receive and advance a stripadvanced from said second uncoiling device, shearing means for each setof said pinch rolls,

means for deiecting strip material from the line of pass of each of saidpinch rolls into a common path of travel, pinch rolls adapted to receiveand advance the strip material from either of said deector means, and alooping pit adjacent said last-named pinch rolls.

3. Apparatus for handling strip metal comprising an uncoiling device, apair of separable vpinch rolls for receiving and advancing a strip,

a second uncoiling device, a pair of separable pinch rolls disposedabove said rst-named pinch rolls and adapted to receive and advance astrip advanced from said second uncoiling device, shearing means foreach set of said pinch rolls, means for deflecting strip material from aline of pass of said pinch rolls into a common path of travel, pinchrolls adapted to receive and advance the strip material from either ofsaid deector means, and strip-fastening means between said defiectormeans and said last-named pinch rolls.

4. Apparatus for handling strip metal comprising an uncoiling device, apair of separable pinch rolls for receiving and advancing a strip, asecond uncoiling device, a pair of separable pinch rolls disposed abovesaid first-named pinch rolls and adapted to receive and advance a stripadvanced from said second uncoiling device, shearing means for each setof said pinch rolls, means for deflecting strip material from a line ofpass of said pinch rolls into a common path of travel, pinch rollsadapted to receive and advance the strip material from either of saiddeflector means, a looping pit adjacent said last-named pinch rolls, andstrip-fastening means between said delector means and said last-namedpinch rolls.

CLAUDE A. BOLLHVGER. FREDERICK K. SCHEFE.

